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. 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2243665.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.43665.

Use of Acupuncture for Adult Health Conditions, 2013 to 2021: A Systematic Review

Jennifer Allen  1 , Selene S Mak  1 , Meron Begashaw  1 , Jody Larkin  2 , Isomi Miake-Lye  1   3 , Jessica Beroes-Severin  1 , Juli Olson  4 , Paul G Shekelle  1
Affiliations

Use of Acupuncture for Adult Health Conditions, 2013 to 2021: A Systematic Review

Jennifer Allen et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Erratum in

  • Errors in Figure 3 and Supplement 1.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Feb 1;6(2):e233459. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.3459. JAMA Netw Open. 2023. PMID: 36826824 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Importance: Acupuncture is a popular treatment that has been advocated for dozens of adult health conditions and has a vast evidence base.

Objective: To map the systematic reviews, conclusions, and certainty or quality of evidence for outcomes of acupuncture as a treatment for adult health conditions.

Evidence review: Computerized search of PubMed and 4 other databases from 2013 to 2021. Systematic reviews of acupuncture (whole body, auricular, or electroacupuncture) for adult health conditions that formally rated the certainty, quality, or strength of evidence for conclusions. Studies of acupressure, fire acupuncture, laser acupuncture, or traditional Chinese medicine without mention of acupuncture were excluded. Health condition, number of included studies, type of acupuncture, type of comparison group, conclusions, and certainty or quality of evidence. Reviews with at least 1 conclusion rated as high-certainty evidence, reviews with at least 1 conclusion rated as moderate-certainty evidence, and reviews with all conclusions rated as low- or very low-certainty evidence; full list of all conclusions and certainty of evidence.

Findings: A total of 434 systematic reviews of acupuncture for adult health conditions were found; of these, 127 reviews used a formal method to rate certainty or quality of evidence of their conclusions, and 82 reviews were mapped, covering 56 health conditions. Across these, there were 4 conclusions that were rated as high-certainty evidence, and 31 conclusions that were rated as moderate-certainty evidence. All remaining conclusions (>60) were rated as low- or very low-certainty evidence. Approximately 10% of conclusions rated as high or moderate-certainty were that acupuncture was no better than the comparator treatment, and approximately 75% of high- or moderate-certainty evidence conclusions were about acupuncture compared with a sham or no treatment.

Conclusions and relevance: Despite a vast number of randomized trials, systematic reviews of acupuncture for adult health conditions have rated only a minority of conclusions as high- or moderate-certainty evidence, and most of these were about comparisons with sham treatment or had conclusions of no benefit of acupuncture. Conclusions with moderate or high-certainty evidence that acupuncture is superior to other active therapies were rare.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Ms Allen reported receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the conduct of the study. Dr Mak reported receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the conduct of the study. Ms Begashaw reported receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the conduct of the study. Dr Miake-Lye reported receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the conduct of the study. Ms Beroes-Severin reported receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the conduct of the study. Dr Shekelle reported receiving grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Literature Flow
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Evidence Map for Pain
aReview included distinct conclusions about separate conditions and comparators; therefore, it appears more than once.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Evidence Map for Mental Health Conditions
aReview included distinct conclusions about separate conditions and comparators; therefore, it appears more than once.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Evidence Map for Other Conditions
aReview included distinct conclusions about separate conditions and comparators; therefore, it appears more than once.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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